Photographic-plate holder for cameras.



N0. 683,560. Patented Oct. I, I91. 6. F. FBALEY.

PHOTUGIAPHIC PLATE HOLDER FOR OAIERAS.

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6. F. FRALEY.

Patented Oct. I, l90l.

PHOTOGBAPHIG PLATE HOLDER FOB CAIERAS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GASSNER F. FRALEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO I. II. BETTMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FHOTOGRAPHlC-PLATE HOLDER FOR CAMERAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,560, dated October 1, ieoi. Application filed January 21, 1901- Serial No. 44,071. (No m otleLl To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GASSNER F. FRALEY, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Plate Holders for Cameras, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to a plate-changer for magazine-cameras; and it consists of the -novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved camera having a suitable carrier by means of which a number a photographic-plate holders may be positively retained in operative position in the focal plane at the same time.

Another object is to provide a suitable mechanism whereby each plate which has been used will be automatically removed from its upright position and another advanced instead, each plate after usage assuming a position outside the focal plane, in which 10- cality it is positively retained by means provided for that purpose. In operative position the photographic-plate holders are supported upon a suitable track and are actuated forwardly by means of a spring and are retained Vertically by a trigger attachment, from which they are released one by one after they have been exposed. They then drop into a horizontal position one upon the other and are retained by a locking device, with which they engage during their downward movement. They may then be returned to their former upright positions in the camera and other photographic plates may be inserted in the place of those which have been removed.

Other objects and advantages will be disclosed by the following description, reference being had to the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera with parts removed, showing my invention embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plate-tray removed from the camera and shows its position relative to the track upon which the photographic plate holders are supported within the camera. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the photographicplate holders. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the camera, show ing a number of photographic plates carried therein. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the camera with the end removed, showing the spring attachment which advances the plate-holders. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the trigger which holds the photographic plates in a vertical position and from which they are released after being exposed. Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing a portion of the spring made use of to advance the holders. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a modified form of trigger.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 in dicat-es the camera. having a top in which is a rectangular opening 2, in which is the usual ground glass. A hinged lid 3 is made use of to close the opening 2 whenever the camera is not in use. A reflector 4 is carried within the camera and operates in alinement with the opening 2. The rear end of the refiector 4: is hinged to a supporting-strip 5, secured to the top of the camera, on the inside. The adjacent edges of the reflector at and the supporting-strip 5 are cut away, as indicated by 6, thereby allowing the reflector to be lowered within the camera without contacting with the supporting-strip 5. A small rod 7 operates through an opening in the top of the camera and its lower end bears upon the upper side of the reflector, and whenever the said rod 7 is pressed downwardly the reflector will be operated and brought in position in the focal plane. The forward end of the reflector operates adjacent to the front of the camera and operates a shutter,which requires only an incidental mention, being fully dis closed in a separate application for Letters Patent filed by me November 4, 1899, Serial No. 738,241, and allowed June 28, 1900.

A spring 8 is carried upon a small shaft 8, supported below the supporting-strip 5 in bearings 8 and has its forward end extending beneath the reflector at, thereby holding the reflector in an elevated position whenever the rod 7 is released.

Secured to the sides of the oamera,adjacent to the rear end thereof, are suitable upright supporting-strips 9, and carried by the said strips 9 are inwardly-extending projections or flanges 10, the purpose of which is to form a track upon which the photographic-plate holders operate when placed within the camera. The forward ends of the flanges 10 are turned downwardly, as indicated by 11, and the upper end of the plate-holder after a photographic plate carried thereby has been exposed drops forwardly, and the plate-holders operate along the vertical portions 11 and are thereby guided downwardly into a horizontal position, in which they are retained by means of a suitable lock, which will hereinafter be described.

A plate or tray 12 operates on the bottom of the camera and carries on each side a vertical post 13, the upper ends of which strike against the lower ends of the vertical portions 11, and the photographic-plate holders pass from the vertical portions 11 onto the posts 13 and are retained by them in the desired position. The plate or tray 12 operates underneath an. inwardly-projecting pin 14, carried by the forward end of the camera, and is thereby prevented from displacement. A suitable lock or projection 15,projecting from the bottom of the camera, operates within a slot 16 in the forward end of the tray 12, and thereby prevents the tray from moving laterally and assists the lock-pin 14 in holding the tray in position. A transverse strip 17 is carried by the tray 12 between the posts 13 and serves to retain the rear ends of the photographic-plate holders out of contact with the bottom of the tray. The rear end of the tray 12 is turned upwardly, as indicated by 18, and affords a hold whereby the tray can be drawn out of the camera whenever it is so desired.

In the forward side of the supporting-strip 5 is a groove or notch 19, and a corresponding notch 20 is formed in the rear side of the reflector 4. A small pin 21 is supported in bearings secured to the supporting-strips 5, and an arm 22 is fixed on the said pin. A suitably-bent trigger 23 is pivoted to each end of the arm 22, and the said triggers operate through openings in a guide 24, carried on the lower end of the support 25, the said support being secured to the top of the camera. An arm 26 is fixed rigid with the pin 21, and to the free end of the arm 26 is pivoted an arm 27, the opposite end thereof being connected to the reflector 4. The triggers 23 are of equal length, and the arm 26 is fixed to the pin 21 at right angles to the arm 22, so that whenever the arm 26 is in a vertical position the arm 22 will be in a horizontal position, making the lower ends of the triggers 23 in horizontal alinement. The arm 26 will be thrown into a vertical position whenever the reflector is lowered to focus the camera, which occurs whenever the rod 7 is pressed downwardly within the opening in which it is carried. A small shaft 28 is supported by the sides of the camera behind the supporting-strip 5, and a spring 29 has its ends rigidly secured to the said shaft and is formed with a depending loop 30, which extends downwardly within the camera approximately to the middle thereof. An arm 31 is attached to one end of the shaft 28 and operates adjacent to the side of the camera, the lower end of the said arm normally engaging with the latch or projection 32, carried by the side of the camera. When in this position, the portion 30 of the spring 29 is held against the photographic plates operatin g on the tracks 10 and serves to advance them forwardly after those that have been used are dropped into a horizontal position.

The photographic plates comprise a rectangular metallic plate 33, formed integral with the sides of which are guideways 34, the purpose of which is to receive and retain the photographic plates. Formed near the lower ends of the sections 33 are the notches 35, the purpose of which is 'to receive the tracks 10 when the photographic plates are placed within the camera. The inner extremities of the notches 35 are slightly enlarged, as indicated by 36, and as the photographic plates are passed forwardly and after they have been exposed and drop into a horizontal position the posts 13 are received within the enlarged portions 36, thereby leaving the plate-holder free to drop into a horizontal position.

When it is desired to place a number of plate-holders in the camera, they are placed in a vertical position, with the tracks 10 operating in the notches 35. The arm 31 is removed from the projection 32, thereby allow ing the loop 30 to be raised into a horizontal position, so that the plates may be placed in the camera without interference. The plates are then applied and are pressed forwardly until the upper edge of the foremost one ongages against the trigger 23. After a sufiicient number of plates have been placed within the camera the arm 31 is engaged with the pin 32, which presses the loop 30 of the spring against the rear plate, thereby holding them securely in a vertical position.

a To use the camera, the rod 7 is depressed, which lowers the reflector 4 to focus the camera. This will raise the trigger 23, with which the foremost plate-holder is engaged, and al low it to drop forwardly a short distance and engage with the other trigger 23, whereby it will be retained until the said trigger is elevated into its normal position. After being focused the rod 7 is released and the tension 'of the spring 8 raises the reflector 4, at the same time making an exposure and releasing the foremost plate-holder from the trigger 23. The said plate-holder being then disengaged drops forwardly and is guided into the proper position by the portions 11 of the track and by the posts 13. As the reflector is raised into its normal position the triggers 23 are also moved, causing one of the said triggers to engage with the next plate-holder 33, which in the meantime has been actuated forwardly by means of the spring 30. This operation occurs after each exposure, the exposed plate being automatically released and dropping into a horizontal position, its rear end resting upon the strip 17 and its forward end resting upon the tray 12.

Carried within the camera, a suitable distance above the bottom thereof, is a horizontal metallic strip 37, integral with which is a plurality of tongues 38. The tongues 38 are madein graduated form, those at one side extending almost to the bottom of the camera. They become gradually shorter toward the opposite side of the camera, so that only one of the tongues will be in contact with any one photographic-plate holder. As shown, the tongues 38 are extended slightly to the rear, so that as the plate -holders 33 drop into ahorizontal position their forward ends will strike against the said tongues 38, each plate-holder engaging with a separate tongue. The tension of the tongues is sufficient to retain the plate-holders in a horizontal position, so that in case the camera should become inverted,or otherwise displaced from its normal position, the plate-holders which have been used will be securely retained in position.

In Fig. 8 is shown a modified construction for the triggers shown in Fig. 6. A rod 39, supported by the sides of the camera, carries an arm 40, the ends of which carry triggers 41, corresponding to the triggers 23. The outer end of the rod 39 is provided with an arm 42, pivoted to the lower end of which is an operating-rod 43. A pin 44, provided with a cam-surface 45, is retained adjacent to the forward end of the rod 43, and whenever the pin 44 is operated the cam-surface 45 will move the rod 43, which will operate the triggers 41, the results of this operation being the same as the operation of the triggers 23 above described.

I claim 1. The combination in a magazine-camera, of a hinged reflector, a track, a number of plate-holders adapted to be supported vertically upon the track, triggers in front of the upper ends of the plate-holders and adapted to engage therewith, and a connection between the reflector and the triggers whereby the latter will be operated automatically to release the foremost plate-holder after each exposure.

2. In a magazine-camera having means for supporting a number of plate-holders in a vertical position, the combination of a springactuated hinged reflector, two triggers adapt ed to engage alternately with the upper ends of the plate-holders,and a connection between the triggers and the reflector whereby the former will be moved automatically to release one plate-holder each time the reflector is operated.

3. In a magazine-camera,ahinged reflector, two triggers connected thereto and automatically operated thereby, a removable tray adapted to be carried in the camera, a track supported by said tray and adapted to support the plate-holders, and a spring for advancing the plate-holders, the foremost plateholder being released ateach operation of the triggers.

4. In a camera, a spring-actuated reflector, a tray removably located in the bottom of the camera, a track supported by said tray, a series of photographic-plate holders mounted on said track, two triggers adjacent to the rear end of the reflector and adapted to alternately engage with the foremost plate-holder, connections between the triggers and the reflector whereby the former will be operated when the latter is moved, and thereby release the foremost plate-holder,and a series of lock ing-tongues supported in the camera to hold the plate-holders after exposure.

5. In a camera, a track for holding a number of photographic-plate holders, two triggers adjacent to the upper ends of the plateholders to hold them in a vertical position, a hinged reflector adapted to be operated to permit an exposure, connections between the triggers and the reflector for operating the triggers and for releasing the foremost plateholder after each exposure to permit the same to drop by gravity to a horizontal position, and suitable locking devices for retaining the plate-holders in theirhorizontal position, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GASSNER F. FRALEY.

WVitnesses:

ALFRED A. Burns, JOHN D. RIPPEY. 

